With reference to the structural geology and mineral wealth of peninsular India, which of the following rock systems hosts over ninety percent of India's coal reserves and was formed during the subsidence of linear basins along river valleys?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Gondwana rock system, deposited in synclinal troughs along ancient river valleys like the Damodar, Mahanadi, and Godavari, holds virtually all of India's metallurgical and thermal coal reserves. The Dharwar system, rich in metallic ores like iron, manganese, and gold, represents the oldest metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. The Cuddapah and Vindhyan systems consist largely of sedimentary strata containing building stones, limestones, and diamond-bearing horizons without significant coal deposits. Gondwana coal is primarily bituminous in rank.